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The Kitchen Table

Food Processor

11 years ago

Any recommendations?

I have been cooking, almost daily, for over 40 years. Have done fine without one, but I realize many tasks would be much simpler and quicker if I had a food processor.

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Comments (11)

kayjones
11 years ago
I LOVE the two I have - a Kitchen Aide and a Hamilton Beach - both are old, but keep working fine. You do everything from grinding up meat to making pie crust - I think you will be amazed and pleased with what you can do with one!

Don't learn the hard lesson I learned:

the blades are RAZOR-sharp - not kidding in the least bit - DO NOT put the blades in the dish water - you WILL get a very nasty cut!!!! Hold on to the blade, swish it in the soapy water and rinse under running water. DO NOT dry the blades by hand - let them air dry - you WILL cut your hand!
alisande
11 years ago
I have a KitchenAid too. Love it! It's quite a few years old, and still going strong.
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Solid state Kitchenaid mixers were introduced in 1978 (the K45SS and the K5SS). In 1986 the line was sold to Whirlpool and all the Artisan, Classic etc. mixers sold today are basically the same models as made in 1986 (some improvements and efficiencies in the machining but anyone who has an old "original" K45SS or K5SS can repair it using today's parts). The Pro line was developed as something entirely new so it doesn't have the same history, but the company has worked very hard to upgrade and improve the model since its inception. There was a period of time when people were having a lot of trouble with their Kitchenaid mixers and the company had to work very hard to restore the reputation of the product. That's when they instituted the one-year no-questions-asked full replacement policy. It's still the best guarantee in the business (my opinion). I'm not convinced the old Hobart mixers are inherently superior to the Kitchenaids made today. I think there's a lot of mythology attached to the brand, but my take on it is people have trouble with the newer mixers because they ask them to do more than they were designed for, especially kneading bread. 50 or 60 years ago women (and it was women in the home kitchen) fortunate enough to have mixers used them for cakes, cookies, meringues, whipped cream, etc. They didn't use them for bread dough, which was generally kneaded by hand. My MIL baked 4 loaves every other day and her old Dormeyer never saw the dough. There's a lot of discussion on The Fresh Loaf about people who burn out their mixers with stiff doughs mixed at speeds higher than the recommended "2" setting. Bread is not the KitchenAid's strong point, though you can mix a perfectly fine one or two-loaf batch or autolyse a portion of a bigger recipe and finish by hand. For bread the Bosch (stiff doughs) or the Ankarsrum/Electrolux Assistant/Magic Mill, etc. (wet doughs) are more suitable. Getting back to the original discussion, the two attachments I use most often on the KA are the grinder and the colander/sieve. The colander/sieve is wonderful, but you have to purchase a vintage one and the K5 is the biggest mixer one will fit. Why the company doesn't offer a new colander/sieve for the 6 quart I do not know. The Viking/Cuisinart/De Longhi (all the same machine) did have a colander/sieve attachment available. I use the shredder attachment less frequently, but I do use it, and even though I have a 14-cup Cuisinart, I prefer the shredder attachment because I find since the mixer is already on the counter, it's less fuss for me to use. Just one of those individual quirks we all have. Carol
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Sorry about your experience. After several back-and-forths with Breville, including one that was not very nice, I got a straight answer. This is it: "This noise only happens with the large bowl. I've tested our sample machines here many times and it makes the same noise as you are reporting. Unfortunately, there isn't a way to eliminate that noise while in use. The noise is coming from the blade and spindle when they first start to rotate." So basically the noise is "the way it is." It does not occur with the 16-cup model; the difference between them is that in the 12-cup model the two main blades connect to the motor with the spindle (in the 16-cup, the blades connect directly without the spindle). I spent some time trying to decide if I could put up with the noise because I like everything else about the processor. But I decided that I would always be annoyed and concerned about it. It really sounds as if something is wrong with the machine. So I went through the hassle of returning it and purchased the Cuisinart 12-cup Elite 2.0 instead.
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Judging by the photos I see on this Ebay listing, (1) the bowl sits on the food processor so that the plunger with the spring inside is over the hole in the top of the food processor. When (2) the lid is seated on the bowl, the food processor turns on.
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I have a very old Cuisinart 14 cup, with the heavy motor and power cord back when they were made in Japan. It had the large feed tube which is essential. Who wants to spend time trimming things down to fit a small feed tube for slicing or shredding? Not me. I want to be able to put most things in with a minimum of trimming. Which size depends on a few factors. How many people you prep/cook for regularly, if you host holidays, etc. A smaller size may suffice for your needs. Or it may be big enough for a household of two, but you want to mix and knead bread dough so you need a stronger motor than minis have. I have used my daughters newer Cuisinart and it doesn’t feel as solid to me. My 30+ year old model has been a workhorse! I bet if you asked around, a family member or friend would likely have one they’d let you borrow to try out, and possibly even keep! I know some people don’t use them as much as they thought they would. I’m watching this post because if/when my old Cuisinart finally goes, I’ll be torn between buying a new one and trying to locate an old model. Lol.
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User
11 years ago
We have 3 of them.. A small Proctor Silex for small jobs such as chopping nuts or onions... and two larger ones.. both Black & Decker... One with a shute, and one without.. I would be lost in the kitchen without them... plus I still chop a lot of stuff on my cutting boards as well..

Carolyn
Fun2BHere
11 years ago
I have a Magimix, but I seldom use it because I am too lazy to get it out unless I am preparing a large amount of food. For just the two of us, it's easier for me to use a knife.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
11 years ago
I have a Black and Decker and a Cusineart, I love the black and decker use it all the time, never use the cusineart.

The black and decker is a work horse and was a great price, I got it at walmart.
Black & Decker
I just recently bought the Ninja Pulse for making smoothies and really like it also it has a 700watt motor the black and decker has a 450 watt.
Ninja Kitchen System Pulse Blender

I would definitely buy the black and decker again if I needed one, for the price it is just a great workhorse
carol_in_california
11 years ago
I have had my Cuisinart since 1983 and it gets a lot of use.
I have only had to replace one bowl and only because the Lexan looks scratched to me and a new blade.
I don't know if they make them as well now as they did back then but I certainly have gotten my money's worth over the years.
Marilyn Sue McClintock
11 years ago
I have an 11 cup Kitchen Aid one, and the little Black and Decker chopper for really small jobs, I don't use it very often.

Sue
sleeperblues
11 years ago
11 cup cuisinart and I love it. It's spendy, but well worth it and very quiet, too.
morz8 - Washington Coast
11 years ago
I've got the bigger Kitchen Aid, have had it a few years and I wasn't really using it. Nothing against the processor, except it is heavy, my kitchen was tiny, and I didn't have a good place to keep it where easily accessible, or the attachments either.

Larger kitchen now with lots of counter, outlets and work space, I leave it out, plugged in. The extra blades, discs directly below it in a drawer and I use it all the time. Just cooking for 2 + a lot of drop in guests....I'm finally really enjoying it :)
hounds_x_two
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank y'all for the helpful feedback.
Now I need to decide which brand/model to buy!
maxmom96
11 years ago
I also have a Cuisinart, and a small 1 or 2 cup one. Easy to get out the smaller one, but since I have a very small kitchen the only place I can keep the Cuisinart is in a lower cabinet. It's heavy and a pain to get out, but I do use it for often for baking, scones in particular.

From other forums I've read, the important thing is to make sure what you get has a large enough capacity for the tasks you'll be using it for, i.e. do you make bread or anything else where you would use multiple cups of dry ingredients? They can be a great time saver.

Oh yes, I can also attest to the sharpness of the blades!

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